Housing for an electronic device

ABSTRACT

A housing for an electronic device includes a housing body, a bottom cover, and a locking member. The housing body includes an engaging slot and a through hole. The bottom cover includes an engaging hook for engaging the engaging slot. An inner surface of the housing body or the bottom cover is provided with a positioning element. The locking member extends through the through hole, and includes an engaging portion disposed on the inner surface of the housing body, and a control portion exposed from the through hole. The control portion is operable to move the engaging portion between a locking position where the engaging portion engages the positioning element and an unlocking position where the engaging portion is separated from the positioning element to thereby facilitate assembly and disassembly of the bottom cover to and from the housing body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of and claims priority toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/798,563, now allowed, having thesame inventors, and the same title, and which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety; and which application claims the priority ofTaiwanese Application No. 098128521, filed on Aug. 25, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a housing for an electronic device, moreparticularly to a locking structure disposed between a housing body of ahousing of an electronic device and a bottom cover of the electronicdevice.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional notebook computer generally has a plurality ofaccommodation slots that open downwardly and that are provided in ahousing body of a housing thereof, and a plurality of covers thatcorrespondingly and respectively cover the accommodation slots. Theaccommodation slots are disposed for receiving electronic components,such as hard disks (HDDs), memory modules, etc. The covers are fastenedremovably to the housing body to close respective openings of theaccommodation slots.

In a housing 1 of a notebook computer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a housingbody 11 of the housing 1 is provided with an accommodation slot 111 witha downward opening, a plurality of engaging slots 112 disposed at aperiphery of the accommodation slot 111, and two screw holes 113disposed at one side of the accommodation slot 111. A cover 12 has aninner surface provided with a plurality of engaging hooks 121 thatcorrespond in position to the engaging slots 112, respectively, and twothrough holes 122 that correspond in position to the screw holes 113,respectively. When it is desired to assemble the cover 12 to the housingbody 11, an operator needs to bring the engaging hooks 121 of the cover12 into engagement with the engaging slots 112 of the housing body 11,respectively. Subsequently, screws 13 are passed through the throughholes 122 and are driven into the respective screw holes 113 using atool (such as a screwdriver) to thereby accomplish assembly of the cover12. In addition, when it is desired to detach the cover 12 from thehousing body 11, the screws 13 are loosened so as to be disengaged fromthe respective screw holes 113, and the engaging hooks 121 aresubsequently detached from the respective engaging slots 112 to permitremoval of the cover 12 from the housing body 11.

Since the accommodation slot 111 of the housing body 11 and the cover 12are designed to be several in number, such a method of fastening usingthe screws 13 will not only cause inconvenience in assembly ordisassembly, there is also an increase in assembly and disassembly time.Therefore, to devise a screwless locking structure that facilitatesassembly and disassembly is the subject of improvement of the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a housing for anelectronic device, which includes a locking member that can be caused toslide or rotate so as to facilitate locking or detachment of a bottomcover to or from a housing body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a housing for anelectronic device, which has a screwless locking member that canfacilitate locking or detachment of a bottom cover to or from a housingbody.

The objects of this invention and solutions to the technical problemsassociated with the prior art are realized using the following technicalmeans. The housing for an electronic device according to the presentinvention includes a housing body, a bottom cover, and a locking member.

The housing body includes an engaging slot disposed adjacent to a frontend thereof, and a through hole disposed adjacent to a rear end thereof.The bottom cover includes an engaging hook disposed adjacent to a frontend thereof for engaging the engaging slot. One of the housing body andthe bottom cover is provided with a positioning element disposed on aninner surface adjacent to the front end thereof. The locking memberextends through the through hole, and includes an engaging portiondisposed on the inner surface of the housing body, and a control portionexposed from the through hole. The control portion is operable to causethe engaging portion to move between a locking position where theengaging portion engages the positioning element and an unlockingposition where the engaging portion is separated from the positioningelement.

The objects of the present invention and the solutions to the technicalproblems associated with the prior art may be further realized byadopting the following technical means.

In the aforementioned housing for the electronic device, the lockingmember includes a locking plate having the engaging portion, and acontrol button coupled detachably to the locking plate and having thecontrol portion. The control button is operable to cause the lockingplate to slide between the locking position and the unlocking position.By means of the locking member that includes two components which arecoupled detachably, the locking plate disposed within the housing bodycan be brought to slide when a user operates the control button from theexterior of the bottom cover or from the exterior of the housing body.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the lockingplate includes an engaging hole corresponding in position to the throughhole. The control button includes two spaced-apart positioning hooksthat extend through the through hole and the engaging hole, and thatengage the locking plate. Thus, the control button can be coupled firmlyto the locking plate.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the positioningelement is disposed to project from the inner surface of the housingbody, the bottom cover further includes a through bore corresponding inposition to the through hole, the two positioning hooks extend throughthe through bore and the engaging hole, and the control portion isdisposed on an outer surface of the bottom cover. Thus, the controlbutton can be coupled to both the bottom cover and the locking plate tocause the locking plate to be engaged with the positioning element onthe outer surface of the housing body.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the bottom coverfurther includes two first limiting indentations disposed adjacent tothe rear end thereof, and two second limiting indentations disposedadjacent to the front end thereof. Each of the positioning hooksincludes a limiting rib to engage a respective one of the first limitingindentations or a respective one of the second limiting indentations soas to position the locking member at one of the unlocking and lockingpositions.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the lockingplate further includes two engaging indentations. The limiting rib ofeach of the positioning hooks engages a respective one of the engagingindentations.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the controlportion is provided with a receiving groove having a downward opening.The housing further includes a rubber element retained in the receivinggroove for abutting against a planar surface. Thus, the control buttonmay serve as a support leg.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the positioningelement is disposed to project from the inner surface of the bottomcover, and has an inverted L-shape. The housing body further includes abottom wall that defines the engaging slot, and a sidewall that extendsupwardly from a rear side end of the bottom wall and that defines thethrough hole. The bottom wall includes an aperture for extension of thepositioning element therethrough. The control portion is disposed on anouter surface of the sidewall so as to facilitate operation of thecontrol button by the user from the rear end of the housing body.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the bottom wallhas an inner wall surface provided with a first limiting block, and asecond limiting block disposed between the first limiting block and thepositioning element. The locking plate further includes a limiting hookfor engaging one of the first limiting block and the second limitingblock so as to position the locking member at the unlocking position orthe locking position.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the sidewallfurther includes a slide groove in spatial communication with thethrough hole for receiving the control portion. The control portion isslidable along the slide groove to cause the locking plate to slidebetween the locking position and the unlocking position.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the positioningelement is disposed to project from the inner surface of the housingbody, and the bottom cover further includes a through bore correspondingin position to the through hole. The locking member further includes apost projecting from the control portion and extending through thethrough bore and the through hole. The engaging portion is formed on anouter surface of the post and is exposed from the through hole. Thecontrol portion is disposed on the outer surface of the bottom cover,and is operable to cause the engaging portion to rotate between thelocking position and the unlocking position.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the positioningelement includes an engaging block. The engaging portion includes anengaging indentation for engaging the engaging block.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the innersurface of the housing body is further provided with a limiting elementfor abutment by the engaging portion so as to limit a rotational angleof the engaging portion, such that the engaging portion can bepositioned at the locking position.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the innersurface of the housing body is further provided with a stop element thatis spaced apart from the limiting element and that is for abutment bythe engaging portion. The stop element serves to limit a rotationaldirection of the engaging portion, so that the locking member isoperable to cause the engaging portion to rotate only in a singledirection to the locking position.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, the engagingportion further includes a guiding sloping surface for contacting anedge of the through hole. Thus, if the engaging portion is not fullyexposed from a top end of the through hole, the engaging portion maystill be guided by the guiding sloping surface to rotate to the innersurface of the housing body.

In the aforementioned housing for an electronic device, due to thearrangement of the locking member which can be slid or rotated betweenthe locking position and the unlocking position, the bottom cover can beeasily assembled and locked to the housing body or detached from thehousing body, thereby providing a screwless locking structure that notonly enhances convenience of assembly or disassembly but also reducesdisassembly time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a housing for aconventional notebook computer to illustrate the assembly relationshipbetween a housing body and a cover;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of the housing for theconventional notebook computer;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of ahousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating engaging portions of locking members in an unlockingposition;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodimentof the housing for an electronic device according to the presentinvention, illustrating the assembly relationships among a housing body,a bottom cover, and the locking members;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another exploded perspective view of the first preferredembodiment of the housing for an electronic device according to thepresent invention as viewed from another angle, illustrating theassembly relationships among the housing body, the bottom cover, and thelocking members;

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the first preferred embodimentof the housing for an electronic device according to the presentinvention, illustrating limiting ribs of positioning hooks retained infirst limiting indentations;

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the first preferred embodimentof the housing for an electronic device according to the presentinvention, illustrating the limiting ribs of the positioning hooksretained in engaging indentations;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the first preferred embodiment of the housingfor an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating control buttons at the unlocking position;

FIG. 10 is another bottom view of the first preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating how the control buttons are pushed forward to the lockingposition;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating the engaging portions of the locking members in the lockingposition;

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of the first preferred embodimentof the housing for an electronic device according to the presentinvention, illustrating the limiting ribs of the positioning hooksretained in second limiting indentations;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating the engaging portions of the locking members in theunlocking position;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of the housing for an electronic device according to thepresent invention, illustrating the assembly relationships among ahousing body, a bottom cover, and locking members;

FIG. 15 is another exploded perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of the housing for an electronic device according to thepresent invention as viewed from another angle, illustrating theassembly relationships among the housing body, the bottom cover, and thelocking members;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the housingfor an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating control buttons at an unlocking position;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the housingfor an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating the control buttons at a locking position;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating engaging portions of the locking members in the lockingposition;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating engaging portions of locking members in an unlockingposition;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the thirdpreferred embodiment of the housing for an electronic device accordingto the present invention, illustrating the assembly relationships amonga housing body, a bottom cover, and locking members;

FIG. 21 is another fragmentary exploded perspective view of the thirdpreferred embodiment of the housing for an electronic device accordingto the present invention, illustrating the assembly relationships amongthe housing body, the bottom cover, and the locking member;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the housing body of the thirdpreferred embodiment of the housing for an electronic device accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the third preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating the locking member in the unlocking position;

FIG. 24 is another bottom view of the third preferred embodiment of thehousing for an electronic device according to the present invention,illustrating the locking member in a locking position; and

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the third preferred embodimentof the housing for an electronic device according to the presentinvention, illustrating engaging portions of the locking members in thelocking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Through a description of the preferred embodiments, the technical meansemployed by the present invention to achieve the intended objects, andthe advantageous effects contemplated thereby, can be better understoodand appreciated. It is noted that the accompanying drawings are forillustration and reference only, and are not intended to limit the scopeof the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of a housing 200for an electronic device according to the present invention. Theelectronic device is exemplified to be a notebook computer. The housing200 of the electronic device includes a housing body 2, a bottom cover 3for covering a bottom face of the housing body 2, and at least onelocking member 4 for locking the bottom cover 3 to the housing body 2.Certainly, the electronic device may be a desk-top computer, a digitalaudio-video player, or a server.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the main technical feature of thisembodiment resides in that the housing body 2 includes at least oneengaging slot 212 disposed adjacent to a front end thereof, and at leastone through hole 252 disposed adjacent to a rear end thereof. The bottomcover 3 includes at least one engaging hook 31 disposed adjacent to afront end thereof for engaging the engaging slot 212. At least onepositioning element 253 is provided on either an inner surface of thehousing body 2 or an inner surface of the bottom cover 3 adjacent to arear end of the same. The locking member 4 extends through the throughhole 252, and includes an engaging portion 412 disposed on the innersurface of the housing body 2, and a control portion 421 exposed fromthe through hole 252. The control portion 421 is operable to cause theengaging portion 412 to move between a locking position, where theengaging portion 412 engages the positioning element 253, and anunlocking position, where the engaging portion 412 is separated from thepositioning element 253. Thus, the bottom cover 3 can be easily lockedto or detached from the housing body 2.

The construction of the components of the first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow. Thehousing body 2 includes a bottom wall 21, a surrounding wall 22extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall 21, and asidewall 23 extending upwardly from a rear side end of the bottom wall21. The bottom wall 21, the surrounding wall 22, and the sidewall 23cooperatively define a receiving space 24 for receiving electroniccomponents (not shown), such as a hard disk, a memory module, etc. Thebottom wall 21 is provided with a plurality of openings 211 thatcommunicate the receiving space 24 with the ambient environment and thatcorrespond in position to the electronic components such that theelectronic components can be removed from the receiving space 24 throughthe respective openings 211. The bottom wall 21 is provided with aplurality of the engaging slots 212 that are spaced apart from oneanother and that are disposed adjacent to left, right and front sides ofthe bottom wall 21. The inner surface of the bottom cover 3 is providedwith a plurality of the engaging hooks 31, which correspond in positionto the engaging slots 212, respectively. Through the engaging hooks 31that are engageable with the respective engaging slots 212, the bottomcover 3 can be retained on the housing body 2 and shields the openings211 in the housing body 2.

The housing body 2 further includes two first raised walls 25 projectingupwardly from the inner surface of the bottom wall 21 and disposedrespectively adjacent to rear left and right sides of the bottom wall21. Each of the first raised walls 25 is primarily provided to define arecess 251 having a downward opening such that two second raised walls32 of the bottom cover 3 which correspond respectively in position andshape to the recesses 251 of the first raised walls 25 are retainable inthe respective recesses 251. The two second raised walls 32 projectupwardly from the inner surface of the bottom cover 3. Therefore, whenthe second raised walls 32 are retained in the respective recesses 251,the bottom cover 3 can be retained firmly on the housing body 2 and willnot slide relative to the housing body 2. Each of the first raised walls25 further defines the through hole 252, which is in spatialcommunication with the corresponding recess 251. The positioning element253 is disposed on a top end of a respective one of the first raisedwalls 25 of the housing body 2, and has an annular shape.

In this embodiment, there are provided two locking members 4 eachincluding a locking plate 41 and a control button 42 coupled removablyto the locking plate 41. The locking plate 41 is extendable through thethrough hole 252 defined by the respective first raised wall 25, andincludes a plate body 411, and the engaging portion 412, which isdisposed on a top face of the plate body 411 adjacent to a front end ofthe plate body 411, and which is configured to resemble a hook. Theengaging portion 412 is engageable with the respective positioningelement 253. In addition, each of the second raised walls 32 defines amounting groove 321 which has a downward opening and a shapecorresponding to that of the control portion 421 of the control button42 to be operated by a user, and which is disposed to engage therespective control portion 421 such that the respective control portion421 cannot move relative to the bottom cover 3 after engagement. Each ofthe second raised walls 32 further defines a through bore 322 in spatialcommunication with the mounting groove 321 thereof. The locking plate 41further includes an engaging hole 413 disposed in the plate body 411thereof and corresponding in position to the through bore 322 in therespective second raised wall 32. The control button 42 includes twospaced-apart positioning hooks 422 projecting from a top face of thecontrol portion 421 thereof and disposed respectively adjacent to leftand right sides of the same. The positioning hooks 422 of the controlbutton 42 of each of the locking members 4 are disposed to extendthrough the respective through bore 322 in the bottom cover 3, theengaging hole 413 in the locking plate 41 of the respective lockingmember 4, and the respective through hole 252 in the housing body 2, andto be engaged with the plate body 411 of the locking plate 41 of therespective locking member 4 such that the control button 42 can becoupled to the locking plate 41. The control portion 421 of the controlbutton 42 is disposed to be received in the respective mounting groove321. The control button 42 of each of the locking members 4 is operableto bring the respective locking plate 41 to slide between an unlockingposition (see FIG. 3), where the engaging portion 412 thereof isseparated from the corresponding positioning element 253, and a lockingposition (see FIG. 11), where the engaging portion 412 thereof engagesthe corresponding positioning element 253.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, each of the second raised walls 32 of thebottom cover 3 further includes two first limiting indentations 323disposed respectively at left and right sides and adjacent to a rear endthereof, and two second limiting indentations 324 disposed respectivelyin the left and right sides and adjacent to a front end thereof. Thefirst and second limiting indentations 323, 324 of each of the secondraised walls 32 are in spatial communication with the through bore 322of the same. The locking plate 41 of each of the locking members 4further includes two engaging indentations 414 disposed respectively inleft and right sides of the plate body 411 thereof and in spatialcommunication with the engaging hole 413 thereof. Each of the engagingindentations 414 and the first and second limiting indentations 323, 324has a curved shape. Each of the positioning hooks 422 includes a bodyportion 423 projecting from the top face of the control portion 421, ahook portion 424 formed at a top end of the body portion 423, and alongitudinally extending limiting rib 425 projecting from an outer sideof the body portion 423 and connected to the hook portion 424. Thelimiting rib 425 of each of the positioning hooks 422 is disposed toengage a respective one of the first limiting indentations 323 and arespective one of the engaging indentations 414 of the locking plate 41,or a respective one of the second limiting indentations 324 and arespective one of the engaging indentations 414 of the locking plate 41,thereby positioning the respective locking member 4 at the unlocking orlocking position.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, when it is desired to assemble the housingbody 2, the bottom cover 3, and the locking members 4 of the housing200, the engaging hooks 31 of the bottom cover 3 are brought intoengagement with the engaging slots 212, respectively, and the secondraised walls 32 of the bottom cover 3 are caused to be retainedrespectively in the recesses 251 of the housing body 2 so as to enablethe bottom cover 3 to be retained on the housing body 2. Subsequently,the locking plates 41 of the locking members 4 are placed respectivelyin the through holes 252 to overlie the second raised walls 32 of thebottom cover 3, respectively. Thereafter, the positioning hooks 422 ofthe control button 42 of each of the locking members 4 are insertedupwardly and sequentially through the respective through bore 322 in thebottom cover 3, the respective through hole 252 in the housing body 2,and the engaging hole 413 in the respective locking plate 41 so that thehook portions 424 of the positioning hooks 422 engage the top face ofthe plate body 411, thereby enabling the control button 42 to be firmlycoupled to both the bottom cover 3 and the locking plate 41. Assembly ofthe housing 200 is thus accomplished. Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9,since each of the limiting ribs 425 of the positioning hooks 422 engagesboth the first limiting indentation 323 and the engaging indentation 414after assembly, and since the engaging portion 412 of the locking plate41 of each of the locking members 4 is separated from the respectivepositioning element 253, the engaging portion 412 of the locking plate41 is disposed at the unlocking position shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, when it is desired to lock the bottomcover 3 to the housing body 2, the user may push the control portion 421of the control button 42 of each of the locking members 4 forwardly in adirection indicated by the arrow (I) (see FIG. 10) such that thelimiting ribs 425 of the positioning hooks 422 of the respective lockingmember 4 are disengaged from the respective first limiting indentations323. After the control portion 421 of the control button 42 of each ofthe locking members 4 is fully engaged with the respective mountinggroove 321, the engaging portion 412 of the locking plate 41 engages afront side of the respective positioning element 253, and the limitingribs 425 of the positioning hooks 422 of the respective locking member 4engage the respective second limiting indentations 324, whereby thelocking plates 41 of the locking members 4 can be firmly disposed at thelocking position shown in FIG. 11 to place the bottom cover 3 and thehousing body 2 in a locked state.

Since the bottom cover 3 of this embodiment may be used as a decorativeplate, if the user intends to replace the bottom cover 3 with one of adifferent design (e.g., of a different color or having a differentpattern), the control portion 421 of the control button 42 of each ofthe locking members 4 can be pushed rearwardly in a direction oppositeto that indicated by the arrow (I). After the limiting ribs 425 of thepositioning hooks 422 of each of the locking members 4 are restored tothe positions where they once again engage the respective first limitingindentations 323, the engaging portion 412 of the locking plate 41 ofeach of the locking members 4 is completely separated from therespective positioning element 253, so that the bottom cover 3 and thehousing body 2 are placed in an unlocked state. Subsequently, the hookportions 424 of the two positioning hooks 422 of the control button 42of each of the locking members 4 are pressed inward simultaneously tocause the hook portions 424 to disengage from the top face of the platebody 411 of the respective locking plate 41, at which time the controlbutton 42 of each of the locking members 4 may be pulled downward tocause the two positioning hooks 422 thereof to disengage from theengaging hole 413 (see FIG. 5) of the respective locking plate 41 andfrom the respective through bore 322 in the bottom cover 3. Finally,each of the engaging hooks 31 of the bottom cover 3 is separated fromthe respective engaging slot 212 of the housing body 2 to therebyaccomplish detachment of the bottom cover 3. Thus, the user may changethe bottom cover 3 with ones of different designs as needed. By virtueof the two-piece construction of each of the locking members 4, i.e.,the locking plate 41 and the control button 42 coupled detachably to thelocking plate 41, the user can easily manipulate the control portion 421of the control button 42 from the exterior of the bottom cover 3 tocause the locking plate 41 disposed in the through hole 252 in thehousing body 2 to slide with the control portion 421. Furthermore, dueto easy assembly and disassembly between the locking plate 41 and thecontrol button 42, each of the locking members 4 can be quicklyassembled to the housing body 2 and the bottom cover 3 for a locking orunlocking operation. Moreover, the locking members 4 can be quicklydetached from the housing body 2 and the bottom cover 3 for replacementof the bottom cover 3.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, the control portions 421of the control buttons 42 have the same profile as that of support legs33 which are disposed on an outer surface of the bottom cover 3 adjacentto the front end of the same, so that the control portions 421 can beused as the support legs 33. The control portions 421 and the supportlegs 33 are each provided with a receiving groove 426, 331 having adownward opening. Each receiving groove 426, 331 is disposed to retain arubber element 5. Thus, when the housing 200 is placed on a planarsurface (not shown), through the rubber elements 5 that abut against theplanar surface, the housing 200 can be positioned firmly on the planarsurface and is not susceptible to wobbling under the influence of anexternal force. It is particularly noted that, although the lockingmembers 4 in this embodiment are exemplified to be two in number, inpractice, there may be provided only one locking member 4, with asupport leg 33 substituting the other locking member 4, and the sameeffect of locking the bottom cover 3 to the housing body 2 can still beachieved. However, use of two locking members 4 as disclosed in thisembodiment can lock the bottom cover 3 onto the housing body 2 moresecurely.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, the second preferred embodiment of ahousing 210 for an electronic device according to the present inventionis substantially the same as the first preferred embodiment in overallconstruction. The difference resides in the configuration and positionsof the locking members 4′.

The bottom cover 3 is provided with two positioning elements 34 that arerespectively disposed on the left and right sides of the inner surfaceof the bottom cover 3 adjacent to the rear end thereof. Each of thepositioning elements 34 has an inverted L-shape. The bottom wall 21 ofthe housing body 2 is provided with two apertures 213 that correspondrespectively to the positioning elements 34 in position. When theengaging hooks 31 of the bottom cover 3 are respectively engaged withthe engaging slots 212 of the housing body 2, the positioning elements34 will extend through the respective apertures 213. The sidewall 23 ofthe housing body 2 defines two rectangular slide grooves 231 that aredisposed on left and right sides thereof, and two through holes 232 thatare in spatial communication with the slide grooves 231, respectively.The plate body 415 of the locking plate 41′ of each of the lockingmembers 4′ defines an engaging hole 416 that corresponds in position tothe respective through hole 232, and has one end provided with anengaging portion 417 for engaging the respective positioning element 34,and the other end provided with a limiting hook 418 for engaging eithera first limiting block 214 projecting from an inner wall surface of thebottom wall 21 or a second limiting block 215 projecting from the innerwall surface of the bottom wall 21. The second limiting block 215 isdisposed between a respective one of the positioning elements 34 and arespective one of the first limiting blocks 214. Thus, the lockingplates 41′ of the locking members 4 can be positioned at the unlockingposition or the locking position.

The control button 42′ of each of the locking members 4′ includes asubstantially rectangular control portion 427, and two positioning hooks428 projecting from a front side of the control portion 427. When it isdesired to assemble the locking members 4′ to the housing body 2, thelocking plates 41′ are placed on the bottom wall 21 and the engagingholes 416 are respectively aligned with the through holes 232.Subsequently, the two positioning hooks 428 of each of the lockingmembers 4′ are inserted into the respective through hole 232 and therespective engaging hole 416 such that hook portions 429 of the twopositioning hooks 428 engage a front side face of the plate body 415 ofthe respective locking plate 41′, thereby accomplishing assembly of thelocking members 4′. At this time, the limiting hook 418 of the lockingplate 41′ of each of the locking members 4 engages an outer side of therespective first limiting block 214, and the control portion 427 of thecontrol button 42′ abuts against an outer end of the slide groove 231 asshown in FIG. 16.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 17 and 18, when it is desired to lock the bottomcover 3 to the housing body 2, the engaging hooks 31 of the bottom cover3 are first brought into engagement with the engaging slots 212 of thehousing body 2. At this time, the positioning elements 34 of the bottomcover 3 will extend through the respective apertures 213 in the housingbody 2. Subsequently, the user can push the control portion 427 of thecontrol button 42′ of each of the locking members 4′ inwardly in adirection indicated by the arrow (II) (see FIG. 17). The control button42′ will cause the respective locking plate 41′ to slide such that thelimiting hook 418 is disengaged from the respective first limiting block214. When the control portion 427 sliding along the slide groove 231abuts against an inner end of the slide groove 231 (as shown in FIG.17), the engaging portion 417 of the locking plate 41′ will be engagedwith the respective positioning element 34 of the bottom cover 3, andthe limiting hook 418 of the locking plate 41′ will engage an inner sideof the second limiting block 215. Thus, the locking members 4′ can bepositioned firmly at the locking position. At this time, the bottomcover 3 and the housing body 2 are in a locked state.

When it is desired to detach the bottom cover 3 from the housing body 2,the user can push the control portion 427 of the control button 42′outwardly in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (II) soas to cause the engaging portion 417 of the locking plate 41′ todisengage from the positioning element 34. When the control portion 427abuts against the outer end of the slide groove 231 as shown in FIG. 16,the engaging portion 417 is completely disengaged from the positioningelement 34, and the positioning hook 418 engages the outer side of thefirst limiting block 214. At this time, the locking members 4′ arerestored to the unlocking position. Thereafter, the engaging hooks 31 ofthe bottom cover 3 are respectively separated from the engaging slots212 of the housing body 2 to thereby detach the bottom cover 3 from thehousing body 2. By virtue of the two-piece construction of each of thelocking members 4′, i.e., the locking plate 41′ and the control button42′ coupled detachably to the locking plate 41′, the user can easilymanipulate the control portion 427 of the control button 42′ from theexterior of the housing body 2 to cause the locking plate 41′ disposedin the sidewall 213 of the housing body 2 to slide with the controlportion 427.

Referring to FIG. 19, the third preferred embodiment of a housing 220for an electronic device according to the present invention issubstantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment inoverall construction. The difference resides in the configuration of thelocking members 4″.

Referring to FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, each of the first raised walls 25 ofthe housing body 2 defines a through hole 254 in spatial communicationwith the respective recess 251. The through hole 254 has a first holeportion 255 and a plurality of second hole portions 256 disposed at anouter periphery of the first hole portion 255. Each of the second raisedwalls 32 of the bottom cover 3 defines a through bore 325 in spatialcommunication with the respective mounting groove 321. The through bore325 corresponds in position to the through hole 254, and has the sameshape as the through hole 254. Each of the locking members 4″ includes acontrol portion 421, a post 430 projecting from the top face of thecontrol portion 421, and a plurality of engaging portions 431 disposedon an outer surface and adjacent to a top end of the post 430 andangularly displaced from one another. The post 430 and the engagingportions 431 of each of the locking members 4″ can extend through therespective through bore 325 and the first and second hole portions 255,256 of the respective through hole 254, with the engaging portions 431exposed from the second hole portions 256, respectively. Thus, after thecontrol portion 421 is rotated a suitable angle, the engaging portions431 of each of the locking members 4″ can be brought into engagementwith a top face of the respective first raised wall 25. The top face ofeach of the first raised walls 25 is provided with a plurality of stopelements 257, each of which is disposed adjacent to one side of arespective one of the second hole portions 256 for abutting against arespective one of the engaging portions 431 to thereby limit therotating direction of the engaging portions 431 of the respectivelocking member 4″. The top face of each of the first raised walls 25 isfurther provided with a limiting element 258 disposed between two of thestop elements 257, and a positioning element 259 disposed between thelimiting element 258 and the corresponding stop element 257. Thepositioning element 259 includes an engaging block 260 facing toward thefirst hole portion 255. One of the engaging portions 431 of each of thelocking members 4″ can abut against the positioning element 258 tothereby limit the rotating angle of the respective locking member 4″ andenable an engaging indentation 432 in said one of the engaging portions431 to engage the engaging block 260 of the positioning element 259.

Referring to FIGS. 20, 23, 24, and 25, when it is desired to lock thebottom cover 3 to the housing 2, the engaging hooks 31 of the bottomcover 3 are respectively brought into engagement with the engaging slots212, and the second raised walls 32 of the bottom cover 3 arerespectively brought into engagement with the recesses 251 in thehousing body 2, thereby retaining the bottom cover 3 on the housing body2. Subsequently, the post 430 and the engaging portions 431 of each ofthe locking members 4″ are passed through the through bore 325 and thethrough hole 254 such that the engaging portions 431 are exposed fromthe second hole portions 256 of the through hole 254. Thereafter, theuser may rotate the control portion 421 of each of the locking members4″ in a direction indicated by the arrow (III) (see FIG. 24). Since eachof the engaging portions 431 has a guiding sloping surface 433 forcontacting an edge 261 (see FIG. 22) of a respective one of the secondhole portions 256 of the through hole 254, even if the engaging portions431 are not fully exposed from top ends of the respective second holeportions 256, the engaging portions 431 of each of the locking members4″ may still be rotated to the top face of the respective first raisedwall 25 by virtue of the guidance of the guiding sloping surface 433.After the control portion 421 of each of the locking members 4″ isrotated to be completely within the respective mounting groove 321, oneof the engaging portions 431 will abut against the limiting element 258of the respective first raised wall 25 so that the respective lockingmember 4″ can be rotated no further, and the engaging indentation 432 ofsaid one of the engaging portions 431 will engage the engaging block 260of the positioning element 259. At this time, the locking members 4″ aredisposed at the locking position to thereby place the bottom cover 3 andthe housing body 2 in a locked state. It is noted that each of thelocking members 4″ may be configured to have only one engaging portion431, which has the engaging indentation 432, and may still achieve theeffect of engaging the top face of the first raised wall 25 and thepositioning element 259.

When it is desired to detach the bottom cover 3 from the housing body 2,the user may rotate the control portion 421 of each of the lockingmembers 4″ in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (III)to cause the engaging indentation 432 of said one of the engagingportions 431 to disengage from the engaging block 260. When each of theengaging portions 431 of each of the locking members 4″ is rotated to aposition where it is registered with the respective second hole portion256, the respective locking member 4″ can be pulled downward to causethe post 430 and the engaging portions 431 thereof to disengage from therespective through hole 254 and the respective through bore 325.Subsequently, the engaging hooks 31 of the bottom cover 3 arerespectively disengaged from the engaging slots 212 to thereby detachthe bottom cover 3 from the housing body 2.

In summary, in each of the above-described embodiments, by means of thelocking members 4, 4′, 4″ that are movable between the locking positionand the unlocking position by sliding or rotating, the bottom cover 3can be assembled and locked to the housing body 2 or detached from thehousing body 2 with relative ease. Thus, the present invention providesa screwless locking structure that not only enhances assembly anddisassembly convenience but also reduces disassembly time.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising: ahousing body including an engaging slot disposed adjacent to a front endthereof, and a through hole disposed adjacent to a rear end thereof,said housing body having an inner surface provided with a positioningelement that is disposed adjacent to said through hole; a bottom coverincluding an engaging hook disposed adjacent to a front end thereof forengaging said engaging slot, and a through bore disposed adjacent to arear end thereof and corresponding in position to said through hole; anda locking member extending through said through bore and said throughhole, and including an engaging portion disposed on said inner surfaceof said housing body, and a control portion exposed from an outersurface of said bottom cover, said control portion being operable tocause said engaging portion to move between a locking position wheresaid engaging portion engages said positioning element and an unlockingposition where said engaging portion is separated from said positioningelement; wherein said locking member further includes a post projectingfrom said control portion and extending through said through bore andsaid through hole, said engaging portion being formed on an outersurface of said post and being exposed from said through hole, saidcontrol portion being disposed on said outer surface of said bottomcover and being operable to cause said engaging portion to rotatebetween said locking position and said unlocking position; wherein saidcontrol portion is provided with a receiving groove having a downwardopening, said housing further comprising a rubber element retained insaid receiving groove for abutting against a planar surface; whereinsaid positioning element includes an engaging block, said engagingportion including an engaging indentation for engaging said engagingblock; and wherein said inner surface of said housing body is furtherprovided with a limiting element for abutment by said engaging portionso as to limit a rotational angle of said engaging portion.
 2. Thehousing for an electronic device of claim 1, wherein said inner surfaceof said housing body is further provided with a stop element that isspaced apart from said limiting element for abutment by said engagingportion, said stop element serving to limit a rotational direction ofsaid engaging portion.
 3. The housing for an electronic device of claim2, wherein said engaging portion further includes a guiding slopingsurface for contacting an edge of said through hole.